Wu Pi Yin: A Classic TCM Formula for Relieving Edema and Regulating Qi
- Health Lab
- Mar 6
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 25
Wu Pi Yin, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription, is renowned for its ability to promote diuresis, reduce swelling, and regulate Qi (vital energy).
First documented in Ma Ke Huo Ren by Qing Dynasty physician Wu Jutong, this formula was originally used to address early measles symptoms, such as fever, chills, limb swelling, thirst, and difficulty urinating. Today, Wu Pi Yin is widely valued for treating edema caused by water retention, offering a natural and effective solution for various swelling-related conditions.
Composition of the Formula Wu Pi Yin
Wu Pi Yin, meaning "Five Peels Drink," is composed of five herbal peels—ginger peel, mulberry bark, tangerine peel, poria peel, and areca peel—typically used in equal parts (about 9 grams each). These herbs are organized according to the TCM principle of "monarch, minister, assistant, and envoy":
Monarch Herbs:
Poria Peel (Fu Ling Pi): Strengthens the spleen, promotes diuresis, and reduces dampness, addressing spleen-related water retention.
Areca Peel (Da Fu Pi): Promotes Qi flow, eliminates dampness, and reduces swelling.
Minister Herb:
Ginger Peel (Sheng Jiang Pi): Encourages diuresis, dispels cold, and expels moisture through sweat.
Assistant Herbs:
Mulberry Bark (Sang Bai Pi): Clears lung heat, relieves asthma, and supports diuresis.
Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi): Regulates Qi, strengthens the spleen, and enhances water metabolism.
This synergistic blend effectively eliminates excess water, regulates Qi, and supports spleen and lung function to alleviate edema.
Indications of Wu Pi Yin
Wu Pi Yin is primarily used to treat systemic or localized edema caused by water retention, with specific applications including:
Skin Edema: Addresses swelling on the skin’s surface due to fluid stagnation.
Limb Swelling: Relieves puffiness in the arms, legs, face, or body, as noted in historical texts like Weisheng Baojian and Huoyou Xinshu.
Lower Body Edema: Targets swelling below the waist, where water tends to accumulate.
Pregnancy and Postpartum Edema: Helps manage fluid retention during and after pregnancy.
The formula is particularly effective for conditions marked by swelling, thirst, and difficulty urinating, often seen in the early stages of measles or other water-retention disorders.
Therapeutic Effects of Wu Pi Yin
Wu Pi Yin offers multiple benefits:
Promoting Diuresis and Reducing Swelling: Poria peel and areca peel enhance urination to eliminate excess fluid, while ginger peel promotes sweating to further reduce moisture.
Regulating Qi: Tangerine peel supports Qi flow, preventing water stagnation and improving metabolism.
Supporting Spleen and Lungs: Poria peel strengthens the spleen to address fluid retention caused by spleen deficiency, while mulberry bark supports lung function to reduce swelling and asthma.
These actions work together to relieve edema, improve fluid balance, and restore energy flow.
Modern Applications of Wu Pi Yin
In modern medicine, Wu Pi Yin is widely used to treat edema-related conditions, including:
Nephritis-Induced Edema: Reduces swelling caused by kidney inflammation by promoting diuresis.
Cardiogenic Edema: Alleviates fluid retention due to heart failure, improving circulation and reducing swelling.
Pregnancy Edema: Safely manages swelling in pregnant women, enhancing comfort and mobility.
The formula’s diuretic and Qi-regulating properties make it a valuable remedy for conditions involving fluid buildup, particularly when linked to spleen or lung dysfunction.
Precautions for Use
When using Wu Pi Yin, keep the following in mind:
Specific Indications: The formula is suited for early-stage edema with symptoms like fever, chills, and swelling. It should not be used after measles has fully erupted or in non-edema conditions.
Contraindications: Avoid in cases of Yin deficiency, excessive heat, or internal damp-heat, as the formula may worsen these conditions.
Special Populations: Pregnant women and individuals with weak constitutions should use it under medical supervision to avoid overuse or depletion.
Chinese Name | 五皮散 |
Phonetic | Wu Pi San / Wu Pi Yin |
English Name | Five-Peel Powder |
Classification | Dampclearing formulas |
Source | 《Central Treasury Classic》Hua Shi Zhong Cang Jing《華氏中藏經》 |
Combination | Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens (Sheng Jiang Pi) 9g, Mori Cortex (Sang Bai Pi) 9g, Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Chen Pi) 9g, Arecae Pericarpium (Da Fu Pi) 9g, Poriae Cutis (Fu Ling Pi) 9g |
Method | Prepare as a decoction. |
Action | Promotes urination and relieves edema, rectifies qi and fortifies the spleen. |
Indication | Wu Pi San is indicated for skin edema resulting from excessive dampness and spleen deficiency causing qi stagnation and water diffusion. The symptoms are general edema, heavy sensation of the body and limbs, fullness and distention of chest and abdomen, dyspnea, dysuria, and gestational edema. The tongue coating is white and greasy, and the pulse is deep and slow. |
Pathogenesis | Skin edema is generally caused by excessive dampness overflowing into the skin. Water-damp diffusion leads to general edema. Dampness is heavy, sticky, and turbid. It therefore might cause a heavy sensation of the body and limbs. Dampness tends to block qi movement resulting in fullness and distention of chest and abdomen. Failure of the lung qi to descend leads to dyspnea. The therapeutic methods are to promote urination, remove edema, rectify qi, and fortify the spleen. |
Application | 1. Essential pattern differentiation Wu Pi San, bland in nature, is the common formula for skin edema. The clinical pattern is marked by general edema, fullness and distention of chest and abdomen, dysuria. 2. Modern applications This formula may be used in the following biomedically defined disorders when the patient shows signs of excessive dampness accumulation in the spleen: nephritis edema, cardiac edema, and gestational edema. |